Beer Sales Decline

[kandace]

One result of the 2008-09 recession that reduced manufacturing jobs in places such as Milwaukee has been slower traffic at some bars, and sluggish beer sales nationwide over the past four years, according to industry analysts.

"Contrary to the myth that people go out and drown their sorrows, the truth is that beer drinkers are pretty responsible people and when they have to cut back, they're cutting back on their pleasures," said Chris Thorne, vice president of communications at the Beer Institute, a Washington-based trade group.

According to the institute, beer drinkers last year in the United States drank 203.4 million barrels, about 5 percent less than in 2008. More concern about healthy living, stiffer drunk-driving laws and measures that ban smoking in places such as taverns have hit beer sales during the last couple of decades in Milwaukee and throughout the country.

[Wild Eyed Southern Boy]

Being a creature of habit, I go out for a couple of drinks every Wednesday night.

In 2008, on this midweek night, my favorite place was always crowded. Now there might be 20-25 people there on Wednesday night. Granted this is not a big town, but in 2008 there were at least a 2 dozen clubs & sports bars etc., now there are 4. And one of those is barely hanging on. Managers tell me me crowds are getting smaller every month. People are holding on to what disposable income they have left.